Gov. Maggie Hassan was on hand Friday morning to cut the ribbon on North Hampton State Beach's new and expansive bathhouse.

The granite and wood structure is nearly triple the size of the old bathhouse and has similar architecture and colors as the recently-overhauled Hampton Beach State Park and shell, a few miles to the south.

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"Our beaches are among our most prized attractions," Hassan told a crowd of about 50 local and state leaders who attended the event. She said she is often struck by the number of people she meets from out of the state who consider Hampton State Beach a "touchstone" for them.

The new bathhouse is now tied into a local sewer line and has greater ability to serve visitors with disabilities.

As a person who has a family member in a wheelchair, Hassan noted "this will make our beaches more attractive" to all.

Phil Bryce, parks director, noted that the new facility was funded as a partnership with many parties, including $450,000 from the legislature in its capital budget, funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the New Hampshire Coastal Program.

He also said it was a collaborative effort, including the communities of Rye, North Hampton and Hampton, which allowed them to connect into a Rye sewer line that is treated in Hampton. The line only ties into the bathhouse in North Hampton and was permitted by an overwhelming vote at its town meeting.

Jim Maggiore, North Hampton selectman, and Paul Apple, town administrator, said the new facility does not change the number of parking spaces that the town has for residents but greatly improves the experience at North Hampton Beach for all who come there.

"Now instead of having one and a half hours of operating toilets, and the rest of the summer a bunch of port-a-potties we will have a summer of service," Maggiore said.

Johanna Lyons, of the Department of Resources and Economic Development, noted there are more actual toilet stalls and a family-friendly facility, which is separate.

Jeff Rose, commissioner of DRED, said the facility is a great addition to the 92 properties the department manages and is reflective and "indicative of the quality of natural resources we have here."

Samyn-D'Elia Architects of Ashland designed the facility and D.L. King Associates Inc. of Nashua was the general contractor.

Project Director Bill Pritchard said the project was completed over two phases in 12 months with a bulk of the work done after the bathhouse was closed last Labor Day.

It will be fully open to the public in several weeks, Bryce said. Lifeguards are on duty from mid-June to Labor Day. For more information visit nhstateparks.org.

Paula Tracy writes about the outdoors for wmur.com and can be reached at paulatracy@roadrunner.com.